Fighting the drug menace with happiness
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Dr Rajesh K Pillania
Drug and substance abuse is a serious global concern. It has become a major health and social issue worldwide. There is an urgent need to take strong, comprehensive and innovative steps to take control of the situation and save lives and social order. One way to fight this problem is to realise and appreciate the role of happiness and well-being in this cause, because happiness can help in a big way in tacking this problem.
Research evidence for positive impact of happiness on fighting drug menace
There is a lot of research over the last decades which shows the positive impact of happiness in fighting the menace of drugs. Here are some important evidences from the research.
First, stress is a major cause of unhappiness in many people’s lives, happiness helps a lot in lowering their stress, and also a reason that people, including young adults, start using drugs. A leading brain scientist, Dr Richard David- son, has shown in his research that an individual can lower stress and maintain emotional balance and control by building a happy and positive mindset. Positive feelings help reduce stress and make it easier for people to handle their emotions. A positive, happy mindset can help in preventing drug and substance abuse.
Second, research shows that happiness can help in managing people’s personal life problems.
Dr Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist, showed that people use drugs and do substance abuse to get away from the problems of life, and just having a meaning and satisfaction in life can help people escape these drugs and substance abuse. When people start living a happy life with a meaning, they never go back to drugs.
Third, research shows that happiness impacts body chemicals that help in feeling good. When people be- come happier, these chemicals start releasing naturally, and when they become na-tural, people don’t have to use drugs to get these che-mical effects. Dr Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist, explained in his research that dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins become impacted positively by just having positive emotions, and people don’t have to use substances to get these effects in the body.
Fourth, research explains that happiness with satisfaction can become a major reason for making good relationships, and individuals become more confident because they need less appro- val from other people. An individual who is lonely and feeling down may need more approval from other people, which can lead to the use of drugs. Dr John Bowlby, who is well known for his attachment theory, explained that having a feeling of emotional safety can reduce unhealthy dependency on getting approvals from other people.
Fifth, research shows that when people are emotionally balanced and have very few mood swings, they feel good and become happier. Dr Daniel Goleman, who has expertise on emotional intelligence, explained in his research that managing emotions properly can help in reducing impulsive and risky actions, and this helps in avoiding the use of drugs because having mood swings and strong emotions, people usually do consumption of drugs.
Sixth, research shows that having a positive feeling and being in a happy state can help in feeling hopeful about imagining a better future. Dr Charles Snyder, also known for his work on hope theory, found in his research that hope play a important role in reducing risky actions. Hope helps people in making sure that they avoid unnecessary risks, such as using drugs, because it can harm a lot and can have major impacts on their future.
Seventh, research shows that people can recover from sickness and loss by being happy only, which also helps in reducing the need for drugs. A happiness researcher, Dr Sonja Lyu-bomirsky, explained in his research that having positive emotions can improve strength and recovery. If an individual started consuming drugs, happiness and positive emotions can become very helpful for them to get back to normal life and get better from the effects got from the use of drugs.
Happiness plays an important role in prevention and can also help in better recovery and getting back to a normal life. However, happiness alone is not a magic solution. It works best when there is support and help from people around, especially for young people who are at bigger risk of drug and substance abuse.
Conclusion and takeaway for readers
The problem of drugs and substance is a big chealth and social order challenge. Research shows that happiness can be an effective way to deal with this issue. However, besides happiness, there is need for other measures such as support from other people. Happiness is the oxygen for a good life and let’s start the journey towards happiness from today, from now, to take care of many problems including drug and substance abuse.
The writer is Prof, Management Development Institute, Gurgaon.
Drug and substance abuse is a serious global concern. It has become a major health and social issue worldwide. There is an urgent need to take strong, comprehensive and innovative steps to take control of the situation and save lives and social order. One way to fight this problem is to realise and appreciate the role of happiness and well-being in this cause, because happiness can help in a big way in tacking this problem.
Research evidence for positive impact of happiness on fighting drug menace
There is a lot of research over the last decades which shows the positive impact of happiness in fighting the menace of drugs. Here are some important evidences from the research.
First, stress is a major cause of unhappiness in many people’s lives, happiness helps a lot in lowering their stress, and also a reason that people, including young adults, start using drugs. A leading brain scientist, Dr Richard David- son, has shown in his research that an individual can lower stress and maintain emotional balance and control by building a happy and positive mindset. Positive feelings help reduce stress and make it easier for people to handle their emotions. A positive, happy mindset can help in preventing drug and substance abuse.
Second, research shows that happiness can help in managing people’s personal life problems.
Dr Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist, showed that people use drugs and do substance abuse to get away from the problems of life, and just having a meaning and satisfaction in life can help people escape these drugs and substance abuse. When people start living a happy life with a meaning, they never go back to drugs.
Third, research shows that happiness impacts body chemicals that help in feeling good. When people be- come happier, these chemicals start releasing naturally, and when they become na-tural, people don’t have to use drugs to get these che-mical effects. Dr Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist, explained in his research that dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins become impacted positively by just having positive emotions, and people don’t have to use substances to get these effects in the body.
Fourth, research explains that happiness with satisfaction can become a major reason for making good relationships, and individuals become more confident because they need less appro- val from other people. An individual who is lonely and feeling down may need more approval from other people, which can lead to the use of drugs. Dr John Bowlby, who is well known for his attachment theory, explained that having a feeling of emotional safety can reduce unhealthy dependency on getting approvals from other people.
Fifth, research shows that when people are emotionally balanced and have very few mood swings, they feel good and become happier. Dr Daniel Goleman, who has expertise on emotional intelligence, explained in his research that managing emotions properly can help in reducing impulsive and risky actions, and this helps in avoiding the use of drugs because having mood swings and strong emotions, people usually do consumption of drugs.
Sixth, research shows that having a positive feeling and being in a happy state can help in feeling hopeful about imagining a better future. Dr Charles Snyder, also known for his work on hope theory, found in his research that hope play a important role in reducing risky actions. Hope helps people in making sure that they avoid unnecessary risks, such as using drugs, because it can harm a lot and can have major impacts on their future.
Seventh, research shows that people can recover from sickness and loss by being happy only, which also helps in reducing the need for drugs. A happiness researcher, Dr Sonja Lyu-bomirsky, explained in his research that having positive emotions can improve strength and recovery. If an individual started consuming drugs, happiness and positive emotions can become very helpful for them to get back to normal life and get better from the effects got from the use of drugs.
Happiness plays an important role in prevention and can also help in better recovery and getting back to a normal life. However, happiness alone is not a magic solution. It works best when there is support and help from people around, especially for young people who are at bigger risk of drug and substance abuse.
Conclusion and takeaway for readers
The problem of drugs and substance is a big chealth and social order challenge. Research shows that happiness can be an effective way to deal with this issue. However, besides happiness, there is need for other measures such as support from other people. Happiness is the oxygen for a good life and let’s start the journey towards happiness from today, from now, to take care of many problems including drug and substance abuse.
The writer is Prof, Management Development Institute, Gurgaon.